Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has insisted that his team will have to be at their best to overcome Everton in Sunday's Merseyside derby at Anfield.

The Reds will enter the match having taken 16 points from their last six Premier League matches, while they have not lost a home league game to Everton for 18 years.

Mignolet, however, is wary of a resurgent Everton, with the Toffees winning their last two under the management of the recently-appointed Sam Allardyce.

"Yes, we've had a lot of success in the derbies but this is a new game. It's a different picture with a new manager at Everton," Mignolet told the Liverpool Echo.

"It's only his second league game in charge. They have won two on the bounce and will be in a good mood. They will feel like they have nothing to lose. It will be tougher than it looked a few weeks ago. Sam is an experienced manager and knows what's required to stay in the Premier League.

"No-one needs motivating for a game like this. It's exciting. I love playing in these games. It's always been a great fixture for us and we're going into it in excellent form. We're back up in the top four which is where we want to be but we want to keep chasing the guys in front of us."

Fourth-placed Liverpool are 11 points and six positions above their Merseyside rivals in the Premier League table.